Product Overview - Aloe Vera

The effectiveness of aloe vera gel as a cosmetic skin care and pharmaceutical product is indisputable. The voluminous research shows clearly that the gel reduces scarring in burns, skin ulcers and other lesions. It has also been shown to have an invigorating effect on skin when applied on a regular basis.

Although most consumers today use aloe vera as a health-promoting cosmetic and pharmaceutical product, its undeniable healing properties have led medical researchers and food industry specialists to take a second look at this wondrous plant as an internal health-aide. The new research and growing health consciousness of today's consumers have produced a brand new category of food products known as nutraceuticals or functional foods, which includes aloe vera, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo biloba and a growing number of other food ingredients.

Aloe Vera Gel is produced in several different ways to fit the select needs of the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers. Thus, manufacturers who prefer the gel in its natural form can order the pure gel, while others may require a liquid or powdered concentrate. Different stabilization systems are available to meet specific applications or governmental regulations.

Garuda International has been intimately involved in many aspects of the aloe vera business since its inception in 1981. Over the years Garuda has taken an active part in the growing, production, product development, marketing and sales of aloe vera gel and concentrates.

Through Garuda's active and worldwide participation in the aloe vera industry through the years, Garuda has discovered key components that are necessary to build effective and long-term aloe vera business, from the wholesale level through to the consumers.

Garuda's current emphasis is on the international market development for aloe vera gel and concentraters used for food, beverage and cosmetic applications..

Garuda has tried various processing techniques over the years and has settled on those methods and processes that produce the most consistent quality day after day, and year after year.

All of Garuda's aloe vera is processed and stabilized within hours of harvest to maintain the essential polysaccharide and chemical profile.

Unfortunately, botanicals, including aloe vera have often fallen prey to such unscrupulous companies and individuals. For this reason, Garuda has always endeavored to maintain rigid specifications for its aloe vera products, that make it more difficult for false or diluted products to meet. Garuda also has a broad base of knowledge about aloe vera that is shared with its customers and prospects. Garuda believes that your knowledge and understanding of aloe vera will make you a more prudent and effective buyer.

Of course, any of Garuda's customers or prospects is welcome to visit our processing facilities at any time to see, first hand, the growing fields and production facilities at work. We want you to feel confident and secure about purchasing your aloe vera from Garuda International, Inc. The production facilities use GMP standards and are ISO9002 certified.

The aloe vera leaves are harvested and processed all year long. With over 3,000 acres under cultivation in two countires, you can be assured of a continuous and ample supply of aloe vera from Garuda International, Inc.

Garuda also has local agents and distributors in many areas of the world to better serve you with prompt communications and shipping times.

The oldest known picture of an Aloe plant is believed to have been shown in color in a manuscript prepared at Istanbul, Turkey. Records of ancient knowledge of the Egyptians about aloe vera is available to us through the everas papyrus which was written in the year 1552 B.C. and is kept now in the German University in Leipzig. Ancient records of the Egyptians, Arab, African, Asians and Americans have discussed the different uses and pathological cases in which Aloes were administered. Aloe was cultivated in Egypt thousands of years ago and was used by the people of the Mediterranean at least 400 years before Christ. Aloe is also mentioned in the Bible's New Testament.

The Arabs had taken Aloe vera plants to India and the Indian people called it "savari", a name from which the name savila (Spanish for aloe vera) might have been derived. The Indians also named Aloe "Ailwa" from which the Greek word "alon" might have been derived. Aloe was also mentioned in ancient Chinese transcripts. It was employed medicinally for eczematous skin conditions in China and India under the name Luhui in China and Musabbar in India. The Greeks knew Aloe through the Indians. The Greek physician Peter Pedanius Dioscoriades wrote about Aloe in his medicinal plant collection "materna medica".

Aloe was first illustrated in the Codex Aniciae Julianae which was written around the year 512 A.D. by Dichotomous. Aloe was also mentioned in the writings of the Latin writer, Aurelius Celsus, who wrote a book about medicine and called it "De Medicina", which appeared for the first time in the year 1378. Aurelius Celsus was a well-known writer in agriculture and medicine.

In America, Aloe was mentioned in Columbus' journals. The earliest record of using Aloe's bitter material as a drug in America was 1697.

The Gala, a hematic tribe who now lives in Ethiopia and Somalia in East Africa grow the plants around their graves and they believe that when the plants flower, the deceased has been admitted to heaven. Hindus in North India, practice the tradition of feeding their newborn children a little of Aloe mixed with honey in a golden spoon. It is normally administered by the father. It is supposed to help discharging the meconium.

In 1893 there was a preparation from Aloe that was described in the Pharmacographia Indica. The preparation was described as follows: a mixture of worm wood, jatamesi, chiretta, cinnamon, cassia, herba schoenenthi, asarum and mastich to be boiled, then strained and mixed with the powered Aloe, and then a solution will be made and drank in the morning.

The British Medical Association issued a couple of books called "Secret Remedies, What They Cost and What They Contain", in 1909 through 1912. Many of the drugs that were mentioned contained Aloes. Some of these drugs were: Hugh's Black Pills, Gloria Pills, Graziona Reducing Treatment, Mother Siegel's Curative Syrup and Tablet-45. The Aloe content of these was used as the active agent in conjunction with a few other ingredients, such as rhubarb and seaweed.